What do you use in ceiling for hanging lights?

[Paul31733]

Hey everyone!
I have a reef breeders photon v2+ 32.
I am wondering what everyone uses to anchor these to the drywall ceiling or joists?
Thank you!
Paul.

 

[Paul B]

I have been an electrician for decades and I also have my lights suspended from the ceiling. You need to screw a support to the ceiling jousts. It could be a piece of wood or metal. Use a stud finder or look closely and you will probably see very slight indentations where shettrock screws are.

Anchor the support there with screws at least 2" long. Hang your lights from that.

 

[redfishbluefish]

What I have done when joists aren't in the right place for centering the light.....they never are....is to first take a board (say a 1 x 4 or 1 x 6) that looks pretty with rounded corners and painted ceiling white, and have it long enough to screw into a couple joists. I can now use this board to center the light and attach hanging hardware where I want. I hope this explanation is clear.

 

[Paul31733]

I have been an electrician for decades and I also have my lights suspended from the ceiling. You need to screw a support to the ceiling jousts. It could be a piece of wood or metal. Use a stud finder or look closely and you will probably see very slight indentations where shettrock screws are.

Anchor the support there with screws at least 2" long. Hang your lights from that.

Do you mean to get a flat piece of wood like a 1"x4" and run it on top of the drywall but fasten it to the joists?
I assume this is to avoid hanging from the actual drywall?
Thank you for your help!

 

[Paul31733]

Ok I got it! So what actual hooks do you use as anchors though? Having trouble finding the actual name to order online.

 

[Paul B]

Lag screw hook. They come in all sizes depending on how heavy your lights are. Just to to any hardware store or home depot . They are like $1.50

 

[Paul31733]

Lag screw hook. They come in all sizes depending on how heavy your lights are. Just to to any hardware store or home depot . They are like $1.50

Thanks!! I knew what they look like but where I am living we are in lockdown so I can't go into the store and look. Now I can order online thanks so much!

 

[leewish]

I used spring toggle bolts into my ceiling

 

[Gtinnel]

If finding the joists becomes an issue you can also use magnets to find the drywall screws to see where the joists are. Although it works best if you at least know which way the joists are running.

If you type in ceiling hooks on amazon you will get a ton of different but usable types of anchors.

 

[Paul31733]

If finding the joists becomes an issue you can also use magnets to find the drywall screws to see where the joists are. Although it works best if you at least know which way the joists are running

I do have a stud finder but that is a pretty cool idea!

 

[leewish]

I used spring toggle bolts into my ceiling

Then use whatever hooks you want going through them.

I used spring toggle bolts into my ceiling

getting the tank to line up with studs can be difficult which is why I used these. They will lock into the drywall after expanding in the ceiling.

 

[Gtinnel]

do have a stud finder but that is a pretty cool idea!

I have a few different stud finders and from my experience none of them are that good. I have much better luck using magnets to find screws. I'm getting ready to hang my lights and have a grid of small magnets on the ceiling above my tank.

 

[Paul B]

I do have a stud finder but that is a pretty cool idea!

I have quite a few stud finders but I can't use them because they keep pointing to me. :rolleyes:

 

[Gtinnel]

I have quite a few stud finders but I can't use them because they keep pointing to me. :rolleyes:

Mine point as far away from me as they can

 

[darinsmall86]

You can look at large toggle bolts. They should be marked with a weight rating. But it is always better to add a wood block above the drywall to attach to if possible. If the wood isn’t possible toggle bolts are probably the best second option.

 

[X-37B]

Molly bolts for my MH through the dry wall. My 6 bulb giesemann was hung from the same.

 

[biecacka]

Good stud finder..
Amazon product ASIN B07XP94548

corey

 

[AZMSGT]

This
https://www.homedepot.com/p/FLIPTOGGLE-1-4-in-x-2-1-2-in-Toggle-Bolt-10-Pack-425R/206347693
with this
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbil...eel-Eye-Bolt-with-Nut-2-Pack-803554/205883084
I used a 1/4” fender washer to go under the nut of the eyebolt and gently tighten everything to the drywall ceiling. Use caution as you don’t want to crush or crack the drywall.

 

[A. grandis]

Hey everyone!
I have a reef breeders photon v2+ 32.
I am wondering what everyone uses to anchor these to the drywall ceiling or joists?
Thank you!
Paul.

Anchor/ screws.

Concrete:

For Drywall ceiling you need to find the studs and use the screw directly into the stud.

Some people like to use the anchor/screw below for drywall ceilings because they don't want to find the studs or they don't find any stud where they want to place the aquarium and that should be also fine, if the fixture isn't too heavy and the ceiling is in good condition.

Another way is to fix a piece of wood on the ceiling after finding the studs and install the fixtures on that wood, painting the wood same color of ceiling.

 

[Paul31733]

I have quite a few stud finders but I can't use them because they keep pointing to me. :rolleyes:

Hey Paul B... Paul A (Aselton). Hopes he made you proud!!